Preparing for your appointment

You're likely to start by seeing your family doctor or primary care doctor. However, in some cases when you call to set up an appointment, you may be referred to a specialist in skin diseases (dermatologist).

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions, such as:

When did you first notice the spots on your skin?

Did the spots appear gradually or quickly?

Have you noticed any other changes in the appearance of your skin?

Is the condition itchy, tender or otherwise bothersome?

Have you experienced frequent or severe sunburns?

How often are you exposed to sun or UV radiation?

Do you regularly protect your skin from UV radiation?

What kind of sun protection do you use?

Questions for your doctor

Questions you may want to ask your doctor include:

What suspicious changes in my skin should I look for?

If the spots are age spots, what can I do to improve the appearance?

Do treatments make them go away completely, or do they just lighten the age spots?

Is microdermabrasion the right choice for you? American Academy of Dermatology. http://www.aad.org/dermatology-a-to-z/diseases-and-treatments/m---p/microdermabrasion/is-it-right-for-you#allpages. Accessed Nov. 24, 2013.

Legal Conditions and Terms

Reprint Permissions

A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.org," "Mayo Clinic Healthy Living," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.